Indiana alum David Neville ran the lead leg of the 4x400m relay on Friday, leading the Americans into the event finals.

Aug. 22, 2008

BEIJING, China - Indiana alum David Neville ran the lead leg of the 4x400m relay on Friday, leading the Americans into the event finals. Neville was the star for the qualifying round, as teammates and gold and silver medalists in the 400-meters LaShawn Merritt and Jeremy Wariner rested through the preliminary heats. Team USA will have all-three medalists in the 400-meters for the finals on Saturday, Aug. 23.

Neville quickly got the Americans out to a lead that they never let go of. Neville's leg was over in just 44.92 seconds, the fastest of the lead legs in the heat. The Americans are clear favorites in the final of the event after sweeping the medals in the 400-meters on Thursday.

Neville took the bronze medal in the 400-meter final, diving across the finish line to beat runners from Great Britain and the Bahamas across the line. He finished behind only Merritt and Wariner.

Neville was a five-time All-American at Indiana, and he was named Big Ten Freshman of the Year in 2003. Neville was named All-Big Ten four times in just three years.

The event finals of the 4x400m relay will take place at 9:05 a.m. ET on Saturday. Today's preliminary heats will be shown tonight at 8 p.m. ET on NBC.

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